Man Who Fled Newark Bank Robbery in Taxi Sentenced to Two Years in Prison

U.S. Attorney’s Office
District of New Jersey
8 January 2015

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEWARK, N.J. - An Essex County, New Jersey, man who robbed a New York Community Bank in Newark and fled by hailing a cab was sentenced today to 24 months in prison, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.

Willie Chestnut Jr., 62, of Newark, previously pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Katharine S. Hayden to an information charging him with one count of bank robbery. Judge Hayden imposed the sentence today in Newark federal court.

According to documents filed in this case and statements made in court:

Chestnut robbed the New York Community Bank in Newark on Oct. 11, 2013, by intimidating the teller and another bank employee who attempted to intercede. He approached the teller and told her he needed to make a withdrawal. After the teller handed him a withdrawal slip, Chestnut demanded bills from the top teller drawer.

Chestnut was arrested by officers of the Newark Police Department shortly after fleeing the scene in a taxi cab, wearing the same clothes he wore during the robbery and with the stolen money and the withdrawal slip in his pocket.

In addition to the prison terms, Judge Hayden sentenced Chestnut to serve three years of supervised release.

U.S. Attorney Fishman credited special agents of the FBI, under the direction of Special Agent in Charge Aaron T. Ford, with the investigation leading to today’s sentencing. He also thanked the Newark Police Department for its contribution.

The government is represented by Assistant U.S. Attorney Cari Fais of the U.S. Attorney’s Office General Crimes Unit in Newark.

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Defense counsel: Lisa Mack Esq., Assistant Federal Public Defender, Newark